Lamp adjusting mechanism



Janv, 1941. R. w. JQH'NSQN ETA; 2,227,502

LAMP ADJUSTING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 16, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 7, 1941.

R. w. Jo'HNsQN ETAL LAMP ADJUSTING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 16, 19558v 2 SheetS-Shset 2 i@ INV NTORS YM/MMM Ml w Patented Jan. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFCE Dickson,

Huntington Woods, Mich.; said Dickson assigner to Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich., a corporation of Dela- Ware Application August 16, 1938, Serial No. 225,210

3 Claims.

Since headlamp structures of the automobile type have come to play an increasingly important role in automobile body design through their relatively xed or built-in placement as an integral part of the vehicle, such as is exemplified in fender, radiator, and hood contained lamps, the purposes or functions for which such lamps have been provided, have to be met by equipping them with suitable devices whereby the aim or direction of the light beams from such lamps may be adjusted simply, positively and with a minimum of tools and loss of time, as well as so that no dismantling or bodily adjustment of the lamp casing or body part is required.

The foregoing constitutes an object of our` invention, an example of which is herein described. A further object is to provide a unique and simple mechanism which is capable of universality of adjustment throughout a circle of 360 degrees of placement on a screen or target against which the light beam may be projected in testing it for directional characteristics and light distribution over legally prescribed regions of specified intensities involving vertical and horizontal components oi beam aim.

These and other objects are attained in the adjustable beam headlamp described in the iollowing specication and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View of a lamp structure embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view of the lamp shown in Fig. 1, and taken somewhat on the line 2--2 thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental and horizontal sectional view of the lamp shown in Fig. 1 and taken on the line 3-3 thereof, the reflector having been removed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental perspective View of the mechanism embodying the major portion of the novelty incorporated in our improved lamp.

Fig. 5 is a iragmental perspective view of an important detail of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4, a spring having been removed to disclose the relationship of the parts more clearly.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental perspective View of but one element of the detail shown in Fig. 5, more clearly to convey adequate understanding thereof.

The lamp which we have devised to incorporate the features of our invention may include a body II having a closure lens I2, with a reflector I3 within the body and mounting the usual lamp bulb I4. Obviously, the body may partake of shapes other than that shown, and may even (Cl. 24U-41.6)

constitute a part of the vehicle structure, as exemplied in the vogue for lamps built into the fenders, hoods or other parts of the vehicle. Since the mounting of lamps as at present requires xity relatively to the remaining vehicle structure, some suitable means for aiming or placement of the beam of light projected from the lamp has to be incorporated. This has been accomplished in the structure we have devised by mounting the reflector so that it is rendered 1b adjustably rotatable both on a horizontal axis and on a vertical axis. In our preference these axes may occupy a plane substantially coincident with the plane of the mouth of the reflector and normal to its axis. Thus provided, it is obvious To establish the reflector mounting axes a ring 20.

l5 has been provided. This ring, as will be described, is mounted in the open end of the casing Il. To the rear of the ring a rearwardly extending guide and spring support 25 is attached. This guide has a slot 26 therein to re- 25 ceive the upturned end 21 of arm 24, in which slots 28 and 29 are formed to receive the edges of the slot 26 in sliding engagement therewith. Ears 30 and 3|, with a tongue 32 between them, terminate the arm 24 at the reflector end, the 30 tongue 32 lying at its end upon the end of support 25, and being somewhat narrower than the slot 26, carries a coil compression spring 33 in the slot. The end oi' the support is provided with a narrow spring retaining lug 34 which, 35 when the end of the spring occupies it, will prevent its disengagement from slot-occupying position. Thus, when the arm 24 is drawn back- Wardly against the pressure of spring 33 the reflector will be tipped in a vertical plane to cause ,10 the light beam to be projected above horizontal, while the spring pressure will cause the reflector to be moved forwardly, thereby throwing the beam at an angle below horizontal. A screw 3&5

at the rear of the lamp casing, passing through the threaded or nutted end 36 of arm 24, and accessible for adjustment externally of the casing,

is employed to create this tipping of the reflector in a vertical plane.

To produce horizontal movement of the reector by means of an arm IB, a link 31 pivoted at the rear end of the arm, has been provided, the opposite end of the link being bent and threaded or nutted as at 38 to receive a screw 33 upon which a coil compression spring 40 is mounted 55 between end 38 and the casing for exterior adjustment of the screw to bring the reflector horizontally against the pressure of spring 40 for swinging the light beam to one side of the vertical axial plane of the vehicle, While opposite adjustment of the screw will permit spring 40 to swing the reiector to project the light beam to the opposite side of the vertical axial plane of the reflector.

At the bottom of the ring I5 the arm I6 is pivoted at a point I1. This arm carries a vertical finger I8 located substantially above the pivot I'I, and the reilector flange 20 is provided with a corresponding slot I9 into which the nger lits for creating reector movement when arm I6 is moved from side to side. Since finger I8 is tapered and since slot I9 is somewhat less in length than the width of the nger, the reflector slot occupies the finger so that the arm and the reiiector are quite rigid relatively to each other. The top of the reiector is pivoted at a diametrically opposite point by providing an aperture 2I into which a tapered pivot pin 22 enters, the pin being carried by a spring 23 which urges a snug fit within the aperture to hold the reflector against looseness and consequent vibration. This spring 23 is attached to the arm 24.

The manner of mounting ring I5 with relation to the lamp body I I may vary materially. However, an exemplary manner of mounting it may consist in providing it with an outwardly turned iiange M and the body with an inwardly turned flange 52, with a sealing cushion t3 of suitable material between them. Cooperating with this is a closure lens mounting of any suitable character involving a sealing cushion 44 at the edge of the lens, with an annular pocket to receive the cushion and perhaps a lens closure ring 45 by means of which the toutensemble may be held in 40 position. Obvious departures from such general 1. In a headlamp, a housing, a reflector, means for adjustably positioning said reflector relative to said housing including a ring member, a guide and supporting member secured to said ring member and having a slot therein, an actuating element operably connected with said reflector and slidably supported on said guide and supporting member, said element having a portion thereof registering with said slot, and yielding means carried by said portion and extending into said slot for opposing sliding movement of said actuating eleinent on said guide and supporting member.

2. In a headlamp, a housing, a reflector, means for adjustably positioning said reflector relative to said housing including a ring, a guide and supporting member secured to said ring having a slot therein, an actuating element operably connected with said reflector and slidably supported by said member, said element having abutment forming ears overlying the wall of said member bounding said slot and a tongue-like portion registering with the latter, and a coil spring carried by said tongue-like portion and acting between said ears and a wall of said slot for opposing sliding movement of said element relative to said support.

3. In a headlamp, a housing, a ring member, a reector having a slot therein, means including a fixed pivot mounting said reflector relative to said ring member for accommodating pivotal movement thereof about an axis, an actuating member having a finger disposed in said slot and providing a fulcrum for accommodating rocking movement of said reflector for adjustment about another axis, said fulcrum being disposed imme- Y diately adjacent said xed pivot, and a pair of means. each operable to adjustably position said reflector about one of said axes respectively without disturbing the elective adjustment of said reflector about the other of said axes.

ROY W. JOHNSON. JOHN B. DICKSON. 

